Commentary, discussion and debate for scholars, practitioners in the field, and policy-makers

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How the dwindling of US resettlement admissions exacerbates tensions at the core of refugee resettlementOct 1st, 2018-The first two years of the Trump presidency have brought about a dramatic decline in the admission of resettled refugees. The United States resettled 92,000 refugees in 2016, the last year in which the annual resettlement ceiling was set by the Obama administration. By contrast, 33,000 refugees were resettled in 2017, and as of September 2018 only about 20,000 refugees have resettled in the US. It has been reported that the resettlement ceiling for 2019, which is to be set shortly, could be as low as 25,000 admissions. Read More

Adèle Garnier and Jessica Darrow

President Trump is Endangering RefugeesJul 11th, 2018-As families continue to endure separation after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, a less visible group of refugees has been abandoned by the Trump Administration with little recourse and dimming hope. In early 2018, approximately 100 Iranian refugees were denied resettlement to the U.S., stranding them in Vienna, Austria, where they had been awaiting final approvals through the U.S. Resettlement Program for over a year. Their denial was made “as a matter of discretion.” They have exhausted their savings and now have no clear path forward. President Trump’s policies have made these refugees’ already precarious lives even more so.

To Whom Does the Global Compact Apply? Some Thoughts on GCR Draft 3Jun 11th, 2018-It is well understood that the definition of “refugee” in the 1951 Convention does not cover all forced migrants, or even all forced migrants in need of international protection. Through General Assembly resolutions, regional instruments and international practice, the definition of refugee—and UNHCR’s mandate to provide international protection—has evolved.

The Arc of Protection Draft Open for CommentaryMay 25th, 2018-Leah Zamore and I have completed a book manuscript entitled The Arc of Protection: Toward a New International Refugee Regime. The book, in draft, is being published on Public Seminar, a New School website. We are publishing the book in draft because we would welcome a discussion of the issues, including criticisms and corrections now--before it goes between hard covers. The Public Seminar site will publish comments and discussion points (as indicated at the bottom of each post). We'd be delighted to hear from you.

Making the Global Compacts Work for All? A Matter of Information in the Right LanguageMar 5th, 2018-Millions of people are being forced from their homes by conflict, violence, disaster, or poverty. From those fleeing the war in Syria or climate change-induced droughts, to those stranded in inadequate conditions in Europe, these vulnerable individuals vary widely in terms of nationalities, languages, dialects, educational levels, income, social status, and access to technology. What they share is the overwhelming need for information in a language they understand in order to make decisions about their next steps, remain safe, and access available assistance.

A New Algorithm to Increase Refugee Employment Through Smarter PlacementFeb 21st, 2018-Economic development requires people to move to where the jobs are, from lagging to leading regions within a country or across borders. This leads to optimal utilization of their human capital and to important gains for them and the economy. The movement of migrants to economic opportunities and to networks that help them integrate the labor market, leads to geographical concentrations of migrant populations. Notably the flows of high-skilled migrants are very concentrated, as they tend to go to few countries worldwide, and to a few selected areas within the country. Agglomeration effects and knowledge spillovers increase the productivity of high-skilled workers who work in the same area or collaborate with other high-skilled workers.

Some Thoughts on the GCR (and the GCM)Feb 19th, 2018-It is, I think, a happy state of affairs that the New York Declaration did not include a GCR. It has given UNHCR and interested parties the opportunity to take a broader view of what ails the international refugee regime and what is needed to fix it. This will now be worked out in the “Programme of Action” to be included in the GCR. The Programme of Action is nominally a detailed plan for ensuring success of the CRRF. But already in the Zero Draft of the GCR it is more than that, and it is here that future development of the GCR will, and needs to, take place.

Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon: The Neglected CrisisFeb 14th, 2018-Lebanon has long hosted refugee populations. In 1948 Palestinians began arriving fleeing violence due to the formation of the Israeli state. The Syrian refugee crisis has resulted in yet another wave of refugees into Lebanon. Due to the unprecedented scale of the displacement, the Syrian refugee crisis has captured international attention. Yet, this has been at the expense of other crises and vulnerable populations.